With good care, Chinese elms grow well. A pruning is only necessary to a limited extent. It is different with the Japanese bonsai art, which is dealt with in greater detail in this article. The low stature is a handsome and easy-care way of keeping a Chinese elm. Find out a lot of useful information here for the correct pruning of a Chinese elm as a bonsai.
The Chinese elm tolerates pruning well
The basic cut
The Chinese elm is not damaged by severe pruning. On the contrary, a radical pruning promotes the formation of new shoots and leads to dense branching. Let the branches grow to a length of 10 cm and ideally shorten them to 1-2 leaves in autumn. You can also use a shaping wire to help. If you use the right pruning technique, this is usually not necessary.
Appropriate styles
The Chinese elm is ideal for keeping bonsai. Thus, no type of design is excluded. You can let your imagination run wild. Mainly established in the deciduous tree
- the broom shape
- the free upright form
- as well as the rock shape
Time intervals between the cuts
You should cut particularly thick branches in autumn so that not too much plant sap escapes. Thinning out the crown every one to two years is sufficient. Here, too, young shoots are cut back to one or two leaves. You should still make regular cuts to keep your shape. This is especially true for older trees. Young plants, on the other hand, need constant pruning to ensure dense branching.
Shorten the root
Chinese elms are known for their vigorous and rapid rooting. It is therefore important to repot young plants every two years. A favorable time for this is the time just before budding. During this process, it is advisable to trim the roots at the same time.